“Big” and “new” don’t always mean “better,” especially when it comes to patios. That’s why this year’s guide is devoted to a less ostentatious breed of outdoor drinking venue—places every local knows and loves, but that don’t have the kind of flashy features (a retractable roof, say, or a giant hexagonal pool) that would necessarily catapult them onto a top-10 list. So, in no particular order, here they are: 10 patios you should probably know about—but that the locals would prefer to keep to themselves.

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<a href="http://aftbar.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Aft</strong></a><br /><br />
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The Queen East barbecue restaurant's back deck has a bar and a flat-screen TV, making it a rowdy World Cup–watching venue<br /><br />
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<strong>Insider Tip: </strong>On Monday nights, Aft has one of the best dinner deals in town: a pair of steak-frites dinners and a bottle of wine for $55<br /><br />
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<em>686 Queen St. E., 647-346-1541</em>

<a href="http://rebelhouse.ca/" target="_blank"><strong>The Rebel House</strong></a><br /><br />
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Rosedale's best pub is named after the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion, which took place along a nearby stretch of Yonge Street. On the roomy back patio, a giant nylon parachute provides a makeshift roof<br /><br />
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<strong>Insider Tip: </strong>Don’t be the jerk who goes to a pub and asks for dry white. Suck it up and order a pint (there are 18 to choose from)<br /><br />
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<em>1068 Yonge St., <a title="Call via Hangouts" data-number="+14169270704" data-rtid="rhscol1" data-ved="0CKABEJAIKAEwEA">416-927-0704</a></em>